With the aid of a Youth as Resources grant of $1,000 dollars and a donation of more than $3,000 worth of music equipment from Fire Escape, a youth group in Ashburn, Virginia, our youth leadership team of 13 teenagers from Wilson Foundation High School in collaboration with our volunteer staff of Americorps*VISTA members, college students, and community members, collectively put in 1,346 work hours to make our first event, The World Is Still Young (TWISY), a reality. RYO youth participants were responsible for designing and painting a mural at the space, booking bands and artists, designing tickets, t-shirts, buttons, and flyers, soliciting donations, preparing and serving food, and working security at the show.
At the May event, 72 community members of all ages and backrounds attended to watch performances by rock bands composed of RYO youth members, readings by local youth and adult poets, as well as a performance by a local semi-professional band. With ticket, button, cupcake, and t-shirt sales, the event brought in $440. The overwhelming success of our first event illustrates the need for programs like this in Rochester and inspired our youth leaders and volunteer staff to expand our programming going forward.
